“Calm down, dear,” David said. “Getting upset isn’t going to solve anything.”
“And don’t you tell me not to get upset,” Angela cried.
“All right,” David said calmly. “I’ll go get the babysitter.”
“I’m not a baby,” Nikki whined.
“Oh, save me,” Angela said with her face raised to the ceiling.
While David was off fetching Alice Doherty, Dorothy Weymouth’s older sister, Angela was able to regain control of herself. She realized that it had been a mistake to tell their respective employers that they would be willing to start on July first. They should have given themselves a few days to get settled.
Alice turned out to be a godsend. She looked quite grandmotherly with her warm caring face, a twinkle in her eye, and snow-white hair. She had an engaging manner and surprising energy for a woman of seventy-nine. She also had the compassion and patience a chronically ill, willful child like Nikki required. Best of all, she loved Rusty which immediately endeared her to Nikki.
The first thing Angela did was show her how to do Nikki’s respiratory therapy. It was important for Alice to learn the procedure, and she proved to be a quick study.
“Don’t you two worry about a thing,” Alice called to David and Angela as they went out the back door. Nikki was holding Rusty, and she waved the dog’s paw to say goodbye.
“I want to ride my bike,” David announced once he and Angela got outside.
“Are you serious?” Angela asked.
“Absolutely,” David said.
“Suit yourself,” Angela said as she climbed into the Volvo and started the engine. She waved once to David as she descended the long drive and turned right toward town.
Although Angela was confident about her professional capabilities, she still felt nervous about starting her first real job.
Mustering her courage and reminding herself that first-day jitters were natural, she reported to Michael Caldwell’s office. Caldwell immediately took her to meet Helen Beaton, the president of the hospital. Beaton happened to be in conference with Dr. Delbert Cantor, the chief of the professional staff, but she interrupted the meeting to welcome Angela. She invited Angela into her office and introduced her to Dr. Cantor as well.
While shaking her hand, Dr. Cantor unabashedly looked Angela up and down. She had chosen to wear one of her best silk dresses for her first day. “My, my,” he said. “You certainly don’t look like the few girls in my medical school class. They were all dogs.” He laughed heartily.
Angela smiled. She felt like saying her class was just the opposite–the few men were all dogs–but she held her tongue. She found Dr. Cantor instantly offensive. He was clearly part of the old-school minority that still wasn’t comfortable with women in the medical profession.
“We are so glad to have you join the Bartlet Community Hospital family,” Beaton said as she escorted Angela to the door. “I’m confident you’ll find the experience both challenging and rewarding.”
Leaving the administration area, Caldwell took Angela to the clinical lab. As soon as Dr. Wadley saw her he leaped up from his desk and even gave her a hug as if they were old friends.
“Welcome to the team,” Dr. Wadley said with a warm smile, his hands still gripping Angela’s arms. “I’ve been anticipating this day for weeks.”
“I’ll be off,” Caldwell said to Angela. “I can see you’re in good hands here.”
“Great job recruiting this talented pathologist,” Wadley told Caldwell. “You’re to be commended.”
Caldwell beamed.
“A good man,” Wadley said, watching him leave.
Angela nodded, but she was thinking about Wadley. Although she was again aware of how much the man reminded her of her father, now she was equally aware of their differences. Wadley’s enthusiastic fervor was a welcome change from her father’s aloof reserve. Angela was even charmed by Wadley’s demonstrative welcome. It was reassuring to feel so wanted on her first day.
“First things first,” Wadley said, rubbing his hands together. His green eyes shone with child-like excitement. “Let me show you your office.”
He pushed open a connecting door from his own office into another that looked as though it had been recently decorated. The room was entirely white: the walls, the desk, everything.